Switch-point protector



BEST AVAILABLE COPX Nov. 2 1926. 1,665,463

F. A. PRESTON SWITCH POINT PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 24, 1925 33: ttovnegg BEST AVAILABLE COP:

Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

- UNITED STATES FREDERICK A. PRESTON, OE HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T O MAINTENANCE :EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION ILLINOIS.

' SWITCH-POINT PROTECTOR.

Application filed December 24, 1925. Serial No. 7 7,499.

My invention relates to railway switch point protectors and has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved out the use of attaching devices requiring holes or slots in the rail and which may be readily and conveniently adjusted longitudinally of the rail to any desired position.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a'switch' point protector which is so constructed that it may be clamped to the base portion of a railroadraill In "this connectionI aim to provide clamping -means for attaching the protector to the rail base which may be easily and conveniently applied and which, if desired, may be so arranged as to abut against a stationary part of the road bed so as to resist creeping movement of the rail.

' The invention has for further objects such other new and improved combinations, arrangements and construction of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such'other objects as will appear from the following description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railroad rail and the end portion of the switch rail showing a switch point protector constructed in accordance with my invention applied to the running rail and showing the clamping means arranged in position to bear against a cross tie.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the construction and arrangement of parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing1 another embodiment of my invention, an

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the switch point protector removed from the rail.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, 10 designates a fixed railroad rail, 11 a switch rail, the tapered end 12 of which is movable into and out of engagement with one side face of the fixed rail, and 13 is one of the cross ties on which the said rails are supported. The switch protector shown in edge with a flange 15 which in its opentive position on a rail fits against the inner face 16 of the head ofthe rail so as to be enprotector device of the above character which may be firmly attached to a rail with-' gaged by the'flang'e of a' railway wheel' an'd thereby force the railway wheel laterally with respect to the fixed rail. The body portion of the plate'is somewhatthicker' than the fiange'15 and is provided near its upper edge with a shoulderj17 which fits against the lower surface 18 of the he'ad of the rail. The lower edge of the plate is'provided with a flange 22 formed at an'a'ng'le corresponding to the inclinationbf'the ',upper surface of the baseflange 21 and normally rests upon said surface when'it is applied .tdthe rail; The' ,portion of theY plat'e 14 "intermediate the shoulder '17 and flange22f is curved outwardly with respect to thevertical flange of the rail base. The inclination of the flange 22 and the spaced relation of the shoulder 17 and the bottom' surface of the flange 22 is preferably such thatthe plate when in its applied' position has, a

wedging fit between the lower surface of the.

head of the rail and the top surfaceof the base flange 21. The lower'portion of. the plate is, preferably, though not necessarily. spaced a slight distancefrom thevcejntral web of the rail and provided with one or more spaced openings 23, each of which is adapted to receive device 24. H

In Figs. 1 to. 3, inclusive, I have shown one endof a clamping the plate 14 clamped to the rail means of two clamps 24-.24', butfit will be obvious that one of said" clamps may be omitted if the location of said plate with relation to a cross tie should be such as to make said omission necessary or desirable.

Theclamps 2424 may be of any suitable or preferred construction adapted v to clamp the flange 22 of the plate to the upper inclined surface of the base flange 21 of the rail. In the drawing, I have shown each clamp as consisting of a bar '25 of resilient metal formed. at one end with ahook shaped jaw 26 which extends into one of the openings 23 of the plate and bears against the upper surface of the flange 22 at a point near the web of the rail. The other end 'of the bar is provided with a shoulder 27 adapted to snap over the outer edge of the base flange 28 of the rail when the clamp isdriven to its applied position.

The distance between thejaw 26 and the upper surface of no BEST AVAlLABLE COPY the bar 25. is normallylessthan the combined thickness of the base flange 21 of the rail and the flange 22 of the protector plate, whereby the jaw and bar are spread apart when the clamp is driven into gripping enpositioned on the rail, each clamp is applied thereto by hookingthejaw end. thereof over versely of the rail until the shoulder '27 snaps over the oppositeedge of the: rail base.

When the clamp is drivenv home, the end of the jaw 26 extendsinto the opening 23 and bears against the flange22- at a point between theside face 29 of thehead of the rail .and the vertical web of the-railso that the downward pressure of they clampholds the flat surface 31 of the flange :15 firmly against the side face of the railheadu The side walls of. the openings 23 provide abutments foropposite sides of the clamp so as to prevent relative movement of the plate and. clamp longitudinally of 'the rail. The clamp24i is preferably applied to the rail so that the body portion of the clamp will abut against one of the vertical: faces 'of a cross tie 13 so as to resist any longitudinal creeping movement of the rail.

: In Figs. 4c and 5 I have shown a modified embodiment of my invention, in which the protector plate 14 .is formed along its lower edge with a shoulder 19 adapted. to bear against the vertical web of the rail base. In this embodiment the upper surface of the flange 22 is formed with a centrally disposed groove 32 instead of .the openings 23 shown the preceding figures. of the drawing. Thegroove, 32 receives the jaw 26 of the clamp 24'? so asto prevent relative movement of the plate and clamp. The jaw 26 of the clamp: 24* somewhat shorter than the jaw 26 of clamp In other respects the plate 14 and clamp 2i may be the same as the corresponding members shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. I

While I have shown and described my invention in connection with. two specific embodiments,-it will be obvious that various modifications in structure might be made without departure from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, wish it understood that I contemplate all such changes in structure as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch point protector comprising a guard member adapted to engage one side ,face of arailroad rail, and elampin means provided with a jaw portion -for em racing formed with a portion for engaging the bot- 7 tom surface of the-railibase. andwith afjaw portion adapted to be forced. intowedging engagement with; a portion i of said guard toclamp the guard ontherail;

. 3. A.- switch point protector comprising. az1 the flange 22' ofthe'plate and then driving the clamp in the direction of its'length transguard. memberxadapted to engage one side tfaee of ajrailroad rail,.andclamping means wedging engagement with a. portion of; said .guard toclampthe guard on the .rail..&

. I 45.. The combinationwith a fixed railroad rail and a movable rail havingra tapered end 99" wit-h a portion for enga ing the flange Ofiawi railway :wheel. to shift t samelaterally of the rail; and provided with-a ortion adapted to be wedged into the space etween the bottom surface of the head. of the rail and. the up- .tom surface ofrtherail hase and with a re-- 8 .:sil-ient jaw portion adapted-to be forced into per surface of the railbase, and. spring means al for securing said guard to said fixed rail.

5. The combination with a fixed railroad rail and a movable rail having a tapered "end adapted tobemoved into and outof engagement with one side face of said fixed rail,. of- 1 means-for protectingthe tapered end ofsaid movable rail comprising .a guard. formed with a portion for engaging the flange of a railway wheel to shift the same laterally of the rail and provided with a flange corre- 1 sponding in angularitytoone base flange of the rail, and means. provided with ajaw movable transversely of the rail; into gripping engagement with. the flange of-said guard and said rail base for clamping the flange of said guard to said base flange.

6. The combination with a. fixed rail and a movable rail having a tapered end adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with one side face of said fixed rail, of means for protecting the tapered end of said movable rail comprising a guard formed with a portion for engaging the flange of a railway wheel to shift the same laterally of the rail and provided with a flange corresponding in angularity to one base flange of the rail and means movable transversely of the rail into wedging engagement with the .fiange of said guard and said rail baseand into gripping engagement with the opposite side of said rail to clamp the said guard upon said fixed rail.

7. In a switch point protector, the combination of a guard member formed with a wheel engaging portion which normally bears against one side face of the rail head and an angularly disposed flange which nor mally rests upon the upper surface of the rail base, and means having a wedging engagement with said guard and the adjacent flange of the rail base for clamping said guard to the rail base with capacity for adjustment of the guard longitudinally of the rail.

8. In a switch point protector, the combination of a guard member formed along its upper edge with a wheel engaging portion and with a shoulder adapted to bear against the under face of the head of a railroad rail and provided along its lower edge with a flange which normally rests upon the upper surface of one base flange of the rail, and means for securing said guard to the rail comprising a clamp engaging the flange of said guard and the bottom surface of the said rail base; said guard being provided with an abutment normally engaged by said clamp to prevent relative movement of said clamp and guard longitudinally of the rail.

9. In a switch point protector, the combination of a guard member formed along its upper edge with a wheel engaging portion and with a shoulder adapted to bear against the under face of the head of a railroad rail, and provided along its lower edge with a flange which normally rests upon the upper surface of one base flange of the rail, a portion for engaging the central web of the rail, and formed with a recess; and means for securing said guard to the rail comprising a clamp formed with a portion which extends into said recess and having a portion which extends under the rail base and engages the bottom surface thereof.

10. In a switch point protector, the combination of a guard member formed along its upper edge with a wheel engaging portion and with a shoulder adapted to bear against the under face of the head of a railroad rail and provided along its lower edge with a flange which normally rests upon the upper surface of one base flange of the rail, a portion for engaging the central web of the rail, and formed with an opening through the body, and means for securing the guard to the rail comprising a clamp provided with a aw adapted to extend into said opening and engage said guard near the web of the rail, and provided with a portion adapted to engage the bottom face of the rail base.

11. The combination with a fixed rail- BEST AVAlLABLE COP\ road rail and a switch rail adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said fixed rail, means for protecting the movable end of said switch rail comprising a guard formed with a portion for engaging the flange of a railway wheel to shift the same laterally of the fixed rail and provided with a flange which normally rests upon the top surface of the rail base, and means for clamping said guard to the fixed rail comprising a bar extending underthe rail base and formed at one end with a jaw adapted to be forced into clamping engagement with one base flange of the fixed rail and with the flange of said guard and provided at the other end with means for engaging the other base flange of said rail.

12. The combination with a fixed railroad rail and a switch rail movable into and outcof engagement with the fixed rail, of means for protecting the movable end of said switch rail comprising a guard formed with a portion for engaging the flange of a railway wheel to shift the same laterally of the fixed rail and means for securing said guard to said fixed rail comprising a clamp engaging said guard and extending under the bottom of the rail base in a position to engage a-stationary part of the road bed to resist creeping movement of the rail.

13. The combination with a fixed railroad rail and a movable switch rail, one end of which is moved into and out'of engagement with the fixed rail, of means for protecting the movable end of said switch rail comprising a guard arranged on one side of the fixed rail in advance of the switch rail, and means for securing said guard to said fixed rail comprising clamping members engaging the guard adjacent opposite ends thereof and engaging the bottom surface of the rail base.

l t- The combination with a fixed railroad rail and a movable rail having a tapered end adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with one side face of said fixed rail, of means for protecting the movable end of said switch rail comprising a guard arranged on one side of the fixed rail in advance of the switch rail and provided with a flange adapted to rest upon-the upper surface of one base flange of said fixed rail and provided with a recess formed in the upper surface thereof, and means for securing said guard to said fixed rail comprising a clamp formed at one end with aportion adapted to fit in said recess and with a portion which engages the bottom surface of the said rail base, the arrangement of said guard and clamp being such that the clamp is moved to its grippin position by movement transversely of t e rail.

FREDERICK A. PRESTON. 

